Affinius Capital, McDonald Property Group, and Premier Design + Build Group have begun work on a master-planned logistics park in Ontario, California. Situated directly across from Ontario International Airport (ONT) in San Bernardino County, The HUB @ ONT project is notable for its scope, location, timeline and complexity. It will also be one of the first large-scale developments in Southern California to incorporate an innovative carbon-reduction system for the slab, tilt-wall panels, and paving as part of Affinius Capital’s strategic plan for achieving significant environmental sustainability goals through concrete decarbonization methods.
Premier, a national design-build construction firm, recently began mass grading the entire site. Working on an aggressive timeline, Premier will be constructing more than two million square feet consisting of four buildings during the initial Phase I of the project.
The site’s proximity to ONT will require extremely careful coordination with airport authorities to manage temporary runway closures during construction.
The team will also work concurrently with the City of Ontario and infrastructure contractor Granite Construction, to make extensive public improvements on every major roadway surrounding the site.
“This is an extraordinarily complex project necessitating an incredible amount of precision in both planning and execution,” explains Premier’s Steven Gabbert, president, Western Region. “There is a heavy coordination and communication lift, so we’ve convened a team of highly experienced project managers, project superintendents and project engineers who will be on-site to lead this build.”
SUSTAINABILITY
In addition to its complexity, The HUB @ ONT is being designed and built with sustainability high on the list of priorities. Multiple strategies for incorporating concrete decarbonization, sustainable elements and achieving LEED Silver certification for this industrial development were identified. The carbon reduction of emissions volume resulting from this project, as compared to conventional concrete design for industrial projects, will achieve approximately 31,500 tons less embodied carbon released into the atmosphere across the entire development.
According to Gabbert, “This is an exciting project for our team, especially because Affinius Capital and McDonald Property Group are so deeply committed to demonstrating the impact of building green.” Gabbert is a LEED accredited professional and a certified sustainable building advisor who has served as a board director for both the USGBC Orange County and the Sustainability Council of Orange County.
TIPS PANELS
Rather than using conventional tilt-up concrete wall panels, Premier will construct the building walls incorporating insulated Total Integrated Panel Systems (“TIPS”). TIPS panels use a specialized truss system, replacing a 4-in layer of concrete with EPS foam core within each panel and dramatically reducing the amount of concrete required. By substituting TIPS panels for standard panels, the team will achieve a significant carbon footprint reduction across the site.
“This project is leading the industry by pioneering a new and exciting direction with the use of TIPS panels in lieu of the traditional concrete tilt walls,” explains Derrick Schuster, project executive. “The foam core components are an innovative way to reduce the project’s carbon footprint by eliminating a substantial portion of cement. This is a transformational solution for achieving the elevated sustainability goals established for this industrial park.”
ECOSLAB
In addition to TIPS panels, Premier’s team will incorporate carbon-reducing specialty concrete EcoSlab, which produces nearly 40 percent less CO2 than traditional concrete slabs. Most CO2 emissions in concrete production occur when the limestone is burned. Since EcoSlab uses less concrete in favor of additional rebar for reinforcement, CO2 emissions are significantly reduced. This innovative process creates a more sustainable slab without sacrificing performance. Other sustainable elements incorporated into the design include rooftop solar arrays, drought-tolerant landscaping and low-flow water systems.
”This project has been many years in the making. With dedication and collaboration of McDonald Development, the Ontario International Airport Authority, the City of Ontario and many consultants, we are proud to be involved in this endeavor,” adds Lange Allen, senior managing director and head of North American Industrial Development for Affinius Capital. “We look forward to delivering one of the premier industrial parks in North America, located in a highly desirable logistics market, with a state-of-the-art sustainability design that users will benefit from for many years to come.”
The target for delivery of the four Phase I buildings is Q2 2025. During Phase II, Premier’s team will add another five buildings to The HUB @ ONT, bringing the total square footage to 4,263,000 over a 28-month overall schedule.
For more on Premier Design + Build Group, visit www.pdbgroup.com. For more on Affinius Capital, visit www.affiniuscapital.com. For more on McDonald Property Group, visit www.mcdonaldpropertygroup.com.